Combined match dispenser and igniter.



E. LAMPREGHT. COMBINED MATCH DISPENSER ,AND IGNITER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, 1909.

Patented June 15,1909,

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EMIL LAMPREOHIOF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COMBINED MATCH DISPENSER AND IGNITER.

Application filed'February 13, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL LAMPRECHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Match Dispensers and Igniters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a combination match dispenser and igniter and my object is to provide a receptacle which is adapted to hold a plurality of substantially globular matches in position to be consecutively ignited.

A further object is to provide means for igniting the matches when discharged.

A still further object is to provide means for moving the matches into engagement with the igniter.

A still further object is to provide means for holding the matches out of the igniter until forced thereinto by the dispensing means and a still further object is to provide suitable coverings for parts of the dispensing device.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combination dispenser and igniter. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view therethrough, showing the shield for the igniter, removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional View as seen on line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view as seen on line 4l4l, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the igniter, and, Fig. 6 is an elevation of a portion of the device showing the means for preventing the matches from casually entering the igniter.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates the match receptacle proper, which is constructed in the usual or any preferred manner and rectangular in cross section, the upper end of the receptacle being provided with a swinging closure 2, which is hingedly secured at one end to a partition 3, said partition covering a portion of the upper end of the receptacle 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Serial No. 477,622.

Extending vertically in the receptacle 1 and adjacent one edge wall thereof is a tube 4 the upper end of which tube is fixed to the partition 3 in any preferred manner, while the lower end thereof extends through the bottom 5 of the receptacle and terminates in an igniter 6, the free end'of the igniter having a plurality of prongs 7 depending therefrom, the free ends of which are curved inwardly whereby the outward movement of the match will be retarded and said match held by the prongs until such time as it is consumed, or is moved out of engagement with the prongs by the next succeeding match. The igniter 6 is also provided with a striking pin 8, which is shorter than the prongs and is extended inwardly a sufficient distance to engage the match 8 as it is forced through the igniter, the friction of the pin on the match causing the match to ignite and as the pin is shorter than the prongs, it will pass beyond the center of the match when said match is properly engaged with the ends of the prongs and serve to hold the match stationary until the same is consumed.

The tube 4 at the intersection with the bottom 5 is provided with an opening 10, through which the matches 9 may enter said tube and in order to prevent the matches from descending directly into the igniter after passing through the opening 10, a spring tongue 11 is fixed at one end to the outer face of the tube 4: and extended through a slot 12 in the wall of the tube, the lower end of the spring tongue being curved inwardly and so positioned as to engage the match asit passes through the opening 10, but said spring will readily yield and permit the match to descend into the igniter when pressure is applied to the match.

Longitudinally movably mounted in the tube 4 is a plunger 18, the lower end of which is adapted to rest in alinement with the upper edge of the opening 10 and immediately over the match after the match has passed through said opening, said plunger being of suflicient length to force the match through the igniter and into engagement with the curved ends of the prongs 7, when the plunger'is depressed. The upper end of the plunger extends through the parti tion 3 and through a cap 14 at the upper end of the receptacle 1, said cap being of such size as to telescope over the end of the receptacle and in order to fix the cap to the plunger, the upper end of the plunger is provided with a reduced portion 15 to form a shoulder on which the cap rests, the reduced portion 15 being threaded and extended through the upper end of the cap to receive a nut 16, which nut locks the plunger in engagement with the cap and in order to obviate a projection above the cap, an offset 17 is formed which will bring the nut flush with the upper end of the cap when said nut is properly turned onto the reduced portion.

In operation, the plunger is forced downwardly by depressing the cap it which will result in moving the match within the tube into and through the igniter (5, the frictional engagement of the striking pin causing the match to ignite as it is moved toward the curved ends of the prongs 7 and after the pressure on the cap has been released, the plunger and cap will be instantly returned to their initial positions by means of a spring 18, said spring surrounding the plunger and having one of its ends engaging a pin 19 extending through the plunger 13 and the opposite end resting on a shoulder 20 formed by swaging inwardly portions of the wall of the tube a, the pin 19 also limiting the upward movement of the plunger. The tube t is also secured to the wall of the receptacle 1 by means of solder or like substance as shown at 21, and the upper end of the tube is secured to the partition in like manner, thereby rigidly fixing the tube within the receptacle.

WVhen it is desired to fill the receptacle, the nut 16 is first removed and the cap let then lifted from the reduced portion of the plunger, when the swinging closure 2 may be elevated and the matches deposited in the receptacle 1, after which the cap is to be returned to its position on the plunger when the device is ready for use.

\Vhen the device is being carried in the pocket or is not in use, the igniter is prefer ably covered with a substantially cup-shaped shield 22 which is attached in any suitable manner to the receptacle 1, so as not to become lost, the object of said shield being to protect the garments or pockets from the prongs 7 and also to prevent the ashes occasioned by the burning of the match, from being spilled in the pocket. Should it be desired to extinguish the match after the same has been partially consumed, the shield may be introduced over the igniter and the match thus extinguished. The shield is so arranged that when a match is forced into engagement with the prongs, the shield will be forced from off the prongs, thereby avoiding the necessity of manually removing the shield, this operation of introducing the match into the igniter also expelling the par tially consumed match or the ashes from a consumed match.

This form of device is adapted more per ticularly for pocket use and can be very cheaply constructed and at the same time rendered strong and durable. It will further be seen that but one match will be ignited at a time and that said matches can be successively forced into the igniter and consumed so that a substantially perpetual light can be obtained until all the matches contained in the receptacle have been consumed.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising the combination with a receptacle and a telescoping cap therefor; of a tube extending the length of said receptacle and through one end thereof, said tube having a shoulder formed therein, a plunger extending through said tube and through the wall of said cap, a nut engaging the exposed end of the plunger to the same to the cap, a spring surrounding said plunger and having one of its ends engaging said shoulder and its opposite end engaging parts of the plunger, and an igniting means carried by the exposed end of the tube, whereby a match will be ignited when forced into engagement therewith.

2. A device of the class described, comprising the combination with a receptable adapted to contain matches, a closure for one end of said receptacle and a cap telescopically engaging said receptacle and over said closure, of a tube extending through the receptacle and beyond one end thereof, a plunger removably secured to said cap and extending through the tube and an igniter attached to the exposed end of the tube, said tube having an opening therein to admit matches one at a time.

3. A device of the class described comprising the combination with a receptacle having a swinging closure, of a removable cap telescopically mounted on the receptacle, a plunger removably attached to the cap, a tube within the receptacle and extending through the bottom thereof and having a shoulder formed in its length, a spring resting on said shoulder and surrounding the plunger, a pin extending through the plunger and receiving the opposite end of the spring and a combined match supporting and igniting mechanism at the exposed end of the tube.

a. A device of the character described, comprising a match containing receptacle having an inner tube withits lower end opening a short distance above the bottom of said receptacle and laterally into said receptacle, said receptacle having depending from its bottom a tubular extension arranged in alinement with the aforesaid tube, said tubular extension being provided with prongs depending therefrom and curved downwardly and inwardly at their lower ends, said tubular extension also having a striking pin with its lower end arranged within the axis of said tubular extension and terminating at a point above the terminals of said prongs, said prongs being adapted to engage the lower surface of the match and said striking pin being adapted to engage the upper surface of said match and means adapted to deliver a match from said tubular extension to said prongs and striking pin.

A device of the character described, comprising a match containing receptacle having an inner tube, aid inner tube terminating a short distance above the bottom of said receptacle, said receptacle having a tubular extension depending therefrom about in alinenient with the aforesaid tube, said tubular extension being provided with prongs having inner curved terminals and with a striking pin having its lower end arranged in a line with the axis of said tubular extension and in a plane above the lower ends of said prongs, said prongs being adapted to engage the lower surface of the match and the said pin adapted to engage the upper surface of the match, a spring finger depending below the lower end of the first-referred to tube and curved inwardly in a line with the axis of said tube and means for delivering the matches from said receptacle into said tubular extension to said prongs and striking finger.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMIL LAMPRE GHT.

Witnesses G. S. FRYE, C. E. FETZER. 

